There are 27 red or blue marbles in the bag the number of red marbles is 5 less than three times the number of blue marbles how many red marbles are in the bag how many blue marbles are in the bag

Answer=24 blue marbles and 3 red marbles

r=red marbles
b=blue marbles
b=3(r+5)

27=b+r
substitue b for '3(r+5)'
27=3(r+5)+r
27=3r+15+r
27=4r+15
subtract 15 from both sides
12=4r
divide both sides by 4
3=r

There are 3 red marbles

27=b+r
27=b+3
subtract 3 from both sides
24=b

There are 24 blue marbles